Powell helps aspiring athletes with valuable tips

Kolkata, Dec 16 (IANS) Legendary long-jumper Mike Powell on Saturday helped aspiring local athletes with valuable tips here, asking them not to think much about faulty jumps.

"Be an aeroplane. Run as fast as you can and then take of lightly like a plane does, with the eye on the horizon. Never look down. Look up and beyond the horizon. This is the best way to jump," said Powell.

Powell is the global brand ambassador of 25K marathon that will take place on Sunday.

Powell's 1991 World Championship record of 8.95 metre is still to be broken.

"Don't give a damn about foul jumps, take your leap of faith," he added.

Powell spent almost 60 minutes with 25 odd aspiring long jumpers giving them tips after their jumps.

He also went up to the take-off board and showed the position in which the upper body and knee should be while taking off, sometimes he showed how to run in the lead up to the jump and also showed how to spread the body to create the perfect aerodynamics to remain in air longer.

Bhairavi Das and Ramdev Tigga were praised by the legend for their fluid movements and take offs, but they were given tips to further hone their skills.

"Have you ever seen an aeroplane with its nose dipping. Be an aeroplane. Run as fast as you can and then take ofA lightly like a plane does, with the eye on the horizon. Never look down. Look up and beyond the horizon. This is the best way to jump," said Mike Powell to the aspirants.

Bhairavi das later said: "It was a great moment to be coached by Powell. He is our idol. He taught us simple things. The things that we tend to ignore and that is great. I wish I had a coach like him."

"I am truly mesmerised. He is such a great man with so much knowledge. He has changed the way I used to think about the jump," said Ramdev Tigga.